Okay, so right now, every post on the front page of the blog is by Nancy, so I’ve got to do something about that! So with a little “help” this morning from someone who claimed to be not feeling well enough to go to Meeting, I finally got this hung on the wall:
I’m rather pleased with it. I wish it were in a location that got a bit better light, so the colors would be brighter, but it’s a good spot for it (and it covers up a place on the wall where the paint is all gunked up).
By Nancy
So, this is how it turned out. Very crackpotty, indeed!
By Nancy
Here’s the backing in progress. It’s starting to look fancier than the front! Maybe I’ll call it “reversible”…
by Nancy
After I finished making my lunch box, I started pondering what to do with the extra flowered fabric from it. (I love this fabric – must use it! Or not…) Most pressing on my List of Possible Future Projects was a small seasonal table runner/table topper for the small table just inside the front door. (Ok, so more pressing than that might be working on some of my Unfinished Objects, but I was able to ignore this less crackpotty idea.) Currently the table still has this winter runner on it – and it’s nearly July – the horror! Although to be honest, I’m not sure how pressing this need really is, as the table is almost always completely covered with mail that Eric needs to sort through, so I’m not sure anyone but me actually knows that it has a winter runner on it. But I know, so it needs to be addressed! 🙂
I started by looking through Marcia McCloskey’s Block Party for block ideas that would let me show off the flower print. I found a few, but I also got distracted inspired by several of the other blocks in there that looked like they would look good in red, white, and blue solids for a 4th of July block. I settled on Stepping Stones, although my color placement is slightly different than what you see in the book or at the link. Next, I did a little looking through my stash for red, white, and dark blue fabric. The red that I chose was fabric that I received from the big box of fabric from Lorene. In fact, no purchases have been made (so far) for this crackpot project. After a little cutting and sewing, here are my blocks:
To get the runner to size it needs to be, I added some borders:
Now I’m ready to put the top, batting, and backing together and quilt it. But rather than using a single piece of fabric for the backing (not crackpotty enough!), I decided this might be the time to use up some scraps. To begin, I pulled out this heart block, which I made with scraps just to try making it (and because I was procrastinating cleaning bathrooms). Now, I’m adding 1.5″ strips of red, white, and blue around it until it’s the size I need. More reports as I progress…
by Nancy
Once I started working part time in the mornings this spring, I moved my volunteer time in Andrew’s class to Thursday afternoon. So, on Thursdays I ate lunch at school with the 1st graders, which was both fun and loud. And so it came to my attention that I don’t have a lunchbox. Nicholas, who almost always buys his lunch from the school cafeteria, kindly allowed me to use his, but I did kind of want one of my own. So, for my birthday I bought myself Lunch Bags! (I had to buy it for myself because I forgot to tell anyone that I wanted it in time for them to give it to me!)
It’s really great! My first attempt was a fairly simple standard lunch box with a little pocket inside. Thanks to my experience making gift bags, it was very easy. Now I just need to work on taking pictures with my phone that aren’t blurry!
by Nancy
Now that this little guy has been given to Andrew’s first grade teacher as an end of the year present, I can finally post his picture on the blog! He was quick and fun to make, and I think he turned out great! The pattern is by Jessica Spencer and can be found here free.
by Nancy
Due to two weekends in a row with long car trips, I’m making excellent progress on my crochet projects. Here is this month’s 12″ square, called the Efflorescent Window. It seems a little crooked, but I think blocking will improve that. I did quadruple front post crochet stitches for the first time on this square – wow!
By Nancy
Here are my 6″ crochet squares for May:
By Nancy
Here it is, my broccoli! It’s the first time I’ve grown it, and I’m quite pleased with its progress. My square foot garden is doing very well. We’ve been eating lettuce and spinach, though the spinach is quite unimpressed with our sudden switch from cool to HOT. Spinach may prove to be a better fall crop in our climate. The basil is coming along, and the 5 different kinds of tomatoes seem happy. Only the green onions are looking a little wimpy, but they are a package of seeds from 2009 that I just found lying around the house and decided I’d go ahead and plant, so I won’t be heartbroken if nothing comes of them.
In other news, school is out is 20 minutes. Quilting and crocheting progress will slow down in about 20 minutes, too!
by Nancy
This is my 12″ crochet square for May. I have my 6″ blocks finished as well, but I haven’t taken a picture yet. Now, it’s on to June…